“Unless the theatre can ennoble you, make you a better person, you should flee from it.” – Constantin Stanislavski
In his 1897 essay, novelist Leo Tolstoy begged the question, What is Art? Tolstoy believed that art was a human necessity, a form of communication between people. Theatre, as an art form, can be easily seen as through Tolstoy’s view. I cannot remember a particular moment in which I first became interested in the dramatic arts. Maybe it was watching television and movies, and being in awe of the celebrity actors, or watching my sister perform in school plays. Either way, I was captivated by the performing arts at a young age. I even pursued drama in university by completing my honours degree in Drama in Education and Community.
For me, drama has the power to open doors. It allows the performer to express themselves through characters that may either be similar or different than who they are in reality. Drama builds confidence, enhances communication skills, and can push you outside of your comfort zone. Furthermore, drama helps you to express yourself better and encourages creativity and imagination. For the audience, theatre has the potential to be more than just entertainment or watching a story come to life. For example, Anton Chekhov’s plays greatly impacted Russian society. In The Seagull, society was reflected through the themes of fate and art, while Uncle Vanya revolved around beauty and destruction, drunkenness and alcohol, and how Russian lives had become wasted, and were basically trapped in their existences. Such examples demonstrate the cathartic nature of theatre. Drama forms connections, stirs emotions, and often gives way to critical thinking.
For the month of November, I have been given the privilege to participate in community theatre by performing in The God of Ecstasy, an adaptation of Euripides’s The Bacchae. It has been years since I have been on the stage, so this experience reenergized my passion for acting. It has also pushed me to do things I am generally uncomfortable doing such as dancing and singing. I have met so many incredible people who are not only talented, but caring, compassionate, and hard working. Together, with our director and crew, we have the chance to tell a powerful story of ritual, reverence, and being true to yourself. And that, in essence, is the power of theatre.
The God of Ecstasy is being performed November 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 8:00pm at Kordazone Theatre, 2520 Seminole Street, Windsor.
